Pali Pils - Honolulu Beerworks 9/2/2017

There is nothing better than a heaping lunch of subs, sandwiches, salads, all with a side of beer. As much as I love Honolulu Beerworks' brews, their food is not something to be missed. The Italian hoagie, salmon salad sandwich, and countless food specials included baked mac & cheese, or braised pork, all hearken to the mainland, especially east coast. Some items have a local spin, but you're really in for a different experience with their food.

Despite being here to eat, I was excited for their Pali Pils. In the traditional German style, this beer is wonderful. With all the beer fads out there that lean away from real beer towards sours and fruit, it's a special treat to have a beer that tastes like it's supposed to. Beerworks really outdid themselves on this simple recipe, which is perfect getting into the Oktoberfest season.

 

Pali Pils -  Fantastic Pilsner, golden straw color, German style, earthy, clean, nice burning bite

MMM Drop IPA by Square Barrels & Koholā Brewery Pairing 8/3/2017

Tonight was a double whammy hosted by Square Barrels in downtown Honolulu. Square Barrels has been around a few years, always with a focus on food, beer, and fine cocktails.  In recent months, they started brewing their own small batch beers. I finally got to try a few tonight.

4-1-1 Session Ale

My Korean Mother-in-law IPA

To start, I ordered their two beers on the menu: the 4-1-1 Session Ale, and the My Korean Mother-in-law IPA. The latter was appropriate, a new IPA for IPA Day 2017!

MMM Drop IPA

What got me in was the launch of their newest offering, MMM Drop North East IPA. They generously gave 6 oz size tasters to all present; it's always great to give a taste to keep you coming back!
 

The event also included one of the owners of Koholā Brewery from Mau'i, who brought four flagship selections. Square Barrels developed a plate of four sliders to pair with each. Their food is excellent, outside the norm of what you'd find in the islands, yet with a very local focus. We had ahi, chicken, beef, and best of all - Moloka'i venison.

Beyond the featured foods, we tried the poutine, beignets, and angel hair bolognese.  The food is super rich, which goes well with the varied beers.  Square Barrels is an Untappd Verified Venue and is worth checking out if you find yourself downtown!

Makai Pier Gose - Aloha Beer Company 7/22/2017

The Hi Brau Room is one of Honolulu's new speakeasies, located above the Aloha Beer Company on Queen Street. Having had their beers at PokeFest, it was a must to go try their new gose, a variation on their original gose from 2013. Aloha Beer Company used to be located along Nimitz as part of Sam Choy's Big Aloha Brewery, which closed that same year making the gose one of their last beers. Having met owner and brewmaster Dave Campbell at PokeFest, I asked him about the new beer. He said it was their aim to make the gose as authentic to the original European varieties as possible. He said these original goses had a high salinity creating a tartness, not a sour taste as many modern ones are. The water was collected off of the makai pier of Waimanalo Bay on O'ahu's east shore, hence the name Makai Pier Gose. I loved the beer; it was tart but with a slight saltiness that lingered on the lips. The Hi Brau Room itself is a chill and comfortable place for a beer or cocktail: big leather chairs, fireplace, stuffed animal head, cozy lighting, gold curtains, and a colorful yet classy bar.  The noise of a Saturday night was just fun and jovial.  I definitely hope to enjoy more beers here with friends!

Very light aroma, super clean taste, tart flavor from the seawater, dry and flavorful!

 

Makai Pier Gose

Honolulu PokeFest 2017

Frolic Hawaii hosted the first ever Honolulu PokeFest on July 22, 2017. My girlfriend Kristine was lucky to win tickets to the event, which included different raw fish poke from over fifteen local restaurants.  At the entrance we picked up a rice bowl and went to town, quickly trying and eating way too much! Located at Pier 11 next to the historic Aloha Tower, we enjoyed our food in the same area used for cruise ship boarding.  I had seen that beer would be available as part of the event and assumed it would be a more usual fare. Kristine kept it a secret that Aloha Beer Company, one of our favorites, was supplying the brews! As part of our tickets, we got to enjoy two each of Kaka'ako Kommon and Aloha Blonde. It was nice to meet ABC's owner Dave Campbell who was pouring beer for the event. Their table and taps looked great in the black fabric, white logo, and fresh plumeria. With all the richness of the food, it was absolutely necessary to have the perfect beer compliments! Mahalo to Kristine, Frolic, and ABC for a wonderful evening!

Kaka'ako Kommon

Aloha Blonde